Remote control apparatus



SWL 27, 1932- c. B. MlRlcK REIOTE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Dc. s. 1927Patented Sept. 27, i932' UNITED STATES PATENT ori-rca CARLOS B. OFWASHINGTON, DISTRICT F COLUHBIA more comor. nraaarus Application tiledDecember 3, 1927. Serial No. 237,578.

(GRANTED UNDERA THE ACT 0F IABCH 8, 1883, lAS AIENDED APRIL 30, 1928;`370 v0. G. 757)' an apparatus with which it is possible to op-v erate onany one frequency within a' given band of frequencies and to shift fromone lo fr uency to another as desired.

urther objects of my invention will ap-f pear more fully hereinafter asthe description of the method and apparatus is developed. v y

My invention consists substantially in the vconstruction combination andarrangement of parts associatedptherewith or as will be more fullyhereinafter set'forth as shown by the accompanying drawing and finallypointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing in which numeral 1represents one of the usual type of radio detectors and amliiersdesignated'in the drawin as R. D. A, or signals received upon any o theconventional types of antenna 2. The amplified signals operate a masterrelay 3, one of the usual types of vacuum tube relays, which in @turn isconnected to the selector mechanism 4. This selector mechanism is of ausual type herein shown with legends upon the drawing .and designatedwith numeral 4. 7.It consists of an armature driven by a motorM, whichmotor has in conjunction therewith a step lock device of any of theusual types, whlch allows Athe motor to move from Vone position to thenext consecutive position and stop as the contacts of the device areclosed and opened. In close proximity to the end of the armature thereare positioned a plurality of contacts to which are individuallyconnected relays. It is believed that the circuit diagram shown in thedrawing sutlices nism since therein are used Vconventional symbols forthe different elements incorporated therein. When the necessarydistinctive for a showing of a standard selector mecha-- controls of theairplane or ,other device to be i remotely controlled.

In the usual type of remote control devices the operation is limited toa certain fre- A quency, and no means hasl been v provided v5|;heretofore whereby the receiver will follow the transmitter to a newfrequency shouldv it be necessary or desirable to shift the trans-`mitter to another frequency because of interference or other causes. Ihave accomo' plished this result by providing an additional set ofcontacts 3() onI the selector mechanism 4, and additional circuits whichI will designate as follows: The-selector relay circuit, theelectromagncticlock circuit, and the o5' master relay and solenoidcircuit.

To accomplish these results I have provided Y a single tuning control 7on the amplifier and detector 1 with which engages a gear 8, that v ismountediupon a shaft 9 that is provided 70' with a rockerarm 10.Connected with the"end of the rocker arm 10 is a connecting rod 11,

the other end of which engages a pinion 12 that is mounted upon agear 13driven by any of the standard types of spring driven motor 14. Inengagement with the gear 13, I have provided an electro-magnetic lock 15which vconsists of a solenoid 16 and a pivoted v lever 16 one end ofwhich engagesthe gear 13 and the other end of which is acted upon by themagnetic flux of the solenoid 16.

For the operation ofthe device I have provided the selector relaycircuit which consists of a connection from the source of power 17 tothe contact 18 of a relayv v19 through the armature 20 and the coil 21of the relay 19, to a contact 22 of the relay 6 of the selectormechanism 4, through the armature 23 of the relay 6, and the otherterminal ofthe source otv power 17 I have further providedthe masterrelay and solenoid circuit from one terminal of the source of power 17through one contact 24, through the armature 25 and another contact 26of the master rela 3, through a coil 27 of 9 the relay 19 and to t eother terminal of the source of power 17. v

Ei 'her of these two circuits operate the armature 20 of the relay 19dependingy upon 10 the particular method of operatlon tolbe hereinafterdescribed. The'armature 2O is in series with the electromagnetic lockcircuit which consists of a connection from the source of power 17through the contacts 28 of the relay 19, through the solenoid 16 of theelectromagnetic'lock l5 and to the other terminal of the source of power17.

,The operation of the device is as follows. Assume that the armature 25yof the master relay 3 rests againstthe contact 29, the armature 23 ofthe relay 6 of the selector mechanism 4 rests against the Contact 22,and the amature 20 rests against the-stops 31 of the relay 19. With theapparatus in this condition the electromagnetic lock circuit is open andthe lever 16 is heldy away from the wheel 13 by means of the tensionexerted by spring 32. The wheel 13 then rotates continuousl and shiftsthe tuning of the receiver bac and forth across the entire frequencyrange of the receiver. The frequency upon which it is desired to operatehaving been determined, a signal is sent out on this frequency which isreceived upon thel antenna 2. When thereceiver 1 comes in tune with thissignal, it is transmitted to the master relay 3 and causes the armature25 to move to contact 26. This movement closes the master relay andsolenoid circuit. y

The flow of-currentv from the source of power 17 ythrough the armature25, the contact 26 and the coil 27 of the relay 19 causes the armature20 to close the contacts 28 and 18. The closing of the contacts 18 locksthe armature 19 in this position, for the selector relay circuit is thenclosed through the contacts 18. The closing of the contacts 28 closesthe electromagnetic lock circuit and engages the lever 16 with mature 23of the relay 6 is moved to the contact 30 breaking the selector relaycircuit at this point but the contacts 28 are held closed by themasterrelay and solenoid circuit which is closed by the armature 25resting'against the contact 26. When this signal ceases the armature 25returns to the contact 29 which opens the` master relay and solenoidcircuit and the armature 20 drops back against thev stops 31. The lever16 then disengages the wheel 1 3 due to the tension exerted thereon bythe spring 32 and the clockmechanism14 again begins to tune the receiverback and forth across the range of frequencies over which it willoperate.

A new series of signals is then sent out at the frequency at which it isdesired to operate. 'When the tuning mechanism tunes the receiver 1 tothat particular frequency theI armature 25 is shifted to the contact 26and the lever 16 again engages the wheel 13 in the manner abovedescribed. By the proper selection of signals in this series thearmature 23 may be shifted to the Contact 22 of the relay 6 closing theselector relay circuit and locking the armature 20 in the position shownWhere operation of the different circuits of theselector mechanism 4 maybe accomplished by signals of this newly established frequency. l

It will be understood that the above description and accompanyingdrawing comprehend onl the generalv and preferred embodiment o myinvention and that minor detail changes in the construction andarrangement of parts may be made within the scope of the appended claimswithout sacricing any of the advantages of my invention. The inventionherein described may be manufactured and used' by or for the Governmentof the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to meof an roalty thereon or therefor.

Ihat I claim is as follows: 1. In a. remote control device, includin areceiver of electric signals, a" master re ay and a selector mechanismhaving a plurality of independently operated rela s, the combination ofmeans for continuous y tuning the receiver across the band offrequencies over which the receiver will operate; said means consistingof a gear mechanism mechanically engaging the tunino controls of thereceiver, and means for driving the gear mechanism; means forinterrupting the tuning mechanism at any predetermined frequency; saidmeans consisting of a source of power, an electric circuit including thesource of power, the contacts of the master relay and a second relay,and an electromagnetic lock circuit; said circuit including the sourceof power, the contacts of said last mentioned relay and anelectromagnetic lock, said lock enga ing the gear mechanism; and meansfor locing'the tuning mechanism in that position, said means consistingof an electric circuit from the source of power, through one set ofcontacts of one relay of theselector mechanism,

a coil and the contacts of the relay in the last mentioned circuit; andthe electromagnetic lock circuit. v

2. In a remote control device, a radio re-y celver, means for tuningsaid recelver over a band yof frequencies, interrupting means adapted tobe actuated by a received wave for interrupting the tuning at thefrequency of the received actuating wave, and .means adapted to beactuated by a predetermined lit signal of the said received frequency tocause said interrupting means to become inoperative.v

3. In a remote control device, a radio re,- 5 eeiver, means forcontinuously tuning said receiver over a band of frequencies, inter'rupting means adapted to be actuated by a received wave for interruptingthe tuning at the frequency of the received actuating wave, 1 and meansadapted to be actuated by a predetermined signal of the said receivedfrequency to cause said interrupting means to become inoperative. v

4. In a remote control device, a radio re- 15 ceiver, means forcontinuously Atuning said receiver over a band of frequencies, saidmeans consisting of a gear mechanism mechanically engaging the tuningcontrols of the receiver, interrupting means adapted to 2 be actuated bya received wavef for interrupting the tuning at the frequency of thereceived actuating wave, and means adapted to be actuated by apredetermined signal of the said received frequency to cause saidinterrupting means to become inoperative.

5. In a remote control'device, a radio receiver, means for continuouslytuning said 'receiver .over a band of frequencies, interrupting meansadapted -to be actuated `by a 5 received wave for interrupting thetuning at the frequency of the received actuating wave, and meansadapted to be actuated by a pre1` determined signal of the saidreceivedfrequcncy to cause said interrupting means t0 35 becomeinoperative, said last mentioned means comprising a selector mechanismand a relay operated by said selector mechanism.

6. In a remote control device, a radio receiver, means for continuouslytuning-said 4 receiver over a band l,of frequencies, said- `meansconsisting of a gear mechanism mechanically engaging the tuning controls,of the receiver., interrupting means adapted to be actuated by areceived wave forV interrupt- 45 ing the tuning at the frequency of thereceived actuating wave, and means adapted to be actuated by apredetermined signal of the said received frequency to cause saidinterrupting means to become inoperative, said last mentioned meanscomprising a selector mechanism and a relay operated by said selectormechanism. 7. In a remote control device, a radiovreceiver, means forcontinuously tuning said receiver over a band of frequencies,interrupting means operated 'by a solenoid, a source of current includedin a circuit for operating said solenoid, a selector circuit, a secondsolenoid actuated by a received wave for closing said first solenoidcircuit to operate said first named solenoid, said second namedsolenoid, actuated by a predetermined signal in said selector circuitfor opening said first mentioned solenoid circuit. j

5 cARLos B. Minion

